Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap says the government will create 830-thousand jobs in the public sector in the first quarter to help the socially vulnerable devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lee made the remark on Wednesday during a meeting on devising responses to the job crisis. 

He said the government will swiftly provide 80 percent of “direct jobs” and 44 percent of social service jobs in the first quarter when the labor market is likely to see the largest shock. 

"Direct jobs" refer to tentative employment in the public sector that the government provides to the socially vulnerable. The government intends to create such jobs for a little over one million people this year. 

In the case of social service jobs, private organizations are charged with finding employment for job seekers.